Step Out of the Traffic

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.” (Psalm 46:10 The Message)

When the late Eugene Peterson translated Psalm 46:10 for The Message he obviously had planted a hidden camera in my car! “Step out of the traffic?” Yeah, right. I drive about 50 miles–one way–to work. Over an hour–one way. There are days when it’s enough to make me lose my religion!

Of course, Eugene Peterson was not speaking literally here. “Step out of the traffic” was his way of saying “Be still.” “Traffic” is whatever keeps you from focusing on God, be it your trip to work, housework, school work, family, politics, etc.

A number of years ago I tried to focus on God while driving into work. I played praise and worship music on the radio, and I would pray out loud in English and sometimes, in tongues. Needless to say, I prayed with my eyes open! I guess praying like this is okay, but I was still in “the traffic,” literally and figuratively, and could not effectively hear God’s voice.

To “take a long, loving look at me, your High God” I have to be still…to find a place where there are no distractions, no “traffic,” and no noise. A place where I can look into God’s face, see the love He has for me and tell Him how much I love Him. A place where I can be reminded that He is Sovereign God, maker of heaven and earth, and ruler over all-even politics. I will not preach here, but only draw your attention to II Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”